Triple Pressure on Yoon Seok-yeol Investigation from Corruption Investigation Office, Central District Prosecutors' Office, and Supreme Prosecutors' Office

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Corruption Investigation Office: "Two-Pronged Investigation Inevitable for Now"... Leaves Door Open for Future Discussions

From the left, former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-yeol, who is implicated in the 'accusation manipulation' suspicion, former Deputy Director of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Investigation Information Policy Division Son Jun-sung, People Power Party lawmaker Kim Woong, Cho Sung-eun, who is implicated in the 'tip-off manipulation' suspicion, and Park Ji-won, Director of the National Intelligence Service. / Yonhap News Agency

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin, Legal Affairs Specialist] The investigation targeting Yoon Seok-yeol, the opposition presidential candidate and former Prosecutor General, is intensifying.

The high-ranking officials' crime investigation agency (Gongjucho) and the prosecution, which had been in conflict, have shifted to a 'cooperation mode' through this case, with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office joining in, creating a structure where all three institutions are targeting former Prosecutor General Yoon.

According to the legal community on the 16th, Gongjucho is currently investigating former Prosecutor General Yoon and former Supreme Prosecutors' Office Investigation Information Policy Officer Son Jun-sung as suspects on charges including abuse of authority.

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office Public Investigation Division 1 (Chief Prosecutor Choi Chang-min) has been assigned the case in which Choi Kang-wook, leader of the Open Democratic Party, and Hwang Hee-seok, Supreme Council member, filed complaints against former Prosecutor General Yoon, former Policy Officer Son, Yoon's wife Kim Geon-hee, Prosecutor General Han Dong-hoon, People Power Party lawmakers Kim Woong and Jeong Jeom-sik, and seven others including an unidentified complainant, and has begun investigation.

Among the five charges listed in the complaint, abuse of authority and disclosure of official secrets fall under Gongjucho's investigation, violations of the Public Official Election Act and election interference under criminal law fall under the prosecution's investigation, and violations of the Personal Information Protection Act fall under the police's investigation.

However, since both Gongjucho and the prosecution can investigate the remaining charges related to the case, it is questionable whether it is appropriate to allocate investigative authority based on the charges.

While it is possible to consider conducting investigations focusing on the charges each institution has jurisdiction over, it is practically difficult to draw clear boundaries as the facts that need to be clarified first overlap.

However, under the Gongjucho Act, priority jurisdiction over investigations involving current and former prosecutors lies with Gongjucho, so if Gongjucho requests transfer, the prosecution must transfer the case to Gongjucho.

A Gongjucho official stated, "Although we do not know how long it will take, for the time being, the investigation will inevitably proceed on two fronts," adding, "If there is a need to consult and cooperate at some point, it is an issue that can be considered."

With the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, which has the largest investigative power in the country, joining the investigation following Gongjucho, and Han Dong-soo, head of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office Inspection Department who led the disciplinary request against former Prosecutor General Yoon last year, continuing investigations for inspection, the pressure targeting former Prosecutor General Yoon is evaluated to have been further strengthened. Accordingly, the investigation into the substance of this case is expected to accelerate.

However, concerns about overlapping and excessive investigations have also been raised due to the involvement of the three institutions.

A Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office official said, "Since the case has just been assigned, it is difficult to discuss specific directions or details," but added, "Everyone is concerned about overlapping investigations, but please understand that we intend to coordinate to prevent overlapping investigative methods, such as witnesses being questioned multiple times at different places."

Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye also responded to a question about 'overlapping investigations' on his way to work, saying, "All three entities emphasize cooperation," and "It is necessary to swiftly uncover the truth through organic cooperation, so there is no need to worry about overlap or confusion."

Meanwhile, Son, the former Policy Officer, whose involvement in the allegations surfaced two weeks ago, was spotted arriving at the Daegu High Prosecutors' Office today but did not respond to reporters' questions about the complaint and entered the building.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.